Growth and response to Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide challenge in Lohmann LSL-Lite pullets when fed a source of omega-3 fatty acids and yeast bioactives from hatch through to 16 wk of age

Growth and response to Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge in Lohmann LSL-Lite pullets when fed a source of omega-3 fatty acids (n-3 FA) and yeast bioactives (YB) from hatch through to 16 wk of age (woa) were investigated. Co-extruded full fat flaxseed and pulse mixture (FFF; 1:1 wt/wt) supplied n-3 FA and YB were yeast cell walls processed with β-1,3-glucan hydrolase. A total of 1,064-day-old pullets were placed in cages (19 birds/cage) and allocated to 7 diets (n = 8). The iso-caloric and iso-nitrogenous diets were control, control + 1, 3, or 5% FFF and + 0.025, 0.05, or 0.1% YB. The birds had ad libitum access to feed and water. Body weight (BW), feed intake, and lymphoid organs weight were recorded. At 15 woa, 2 pairs of pullets/cage received intravenous injection of either 1 mL of sterile saline without or with 8 mg LPS/kg BW. Injected pullets were bled, monitored for BW and cloaca temperature at time points within 168 h. Birds fed 1% FFF were heavier (P < 0.04) than birds fed other diets at 16 woa with FFF and YB exhibiting non-linear responses. Control birds had heavier (P = 0.02) thymus at 4 woa. Spleen weight increased quadratically (P < 0.05) in response to FFF at 8 and YB at 16 woa. The LPS increased cloaca temperature and altered concentration of several plasma metabolites (P < 0.05). The interaction (P < 0.05) between LPS and diet was such that control birds exhibited lower creatine kinase (CK) upon challenge with LPS relative to birds fed other diets. The LPS birds fed 1% FFF and 0.05% YB showed higher plasma albumin than non-LPS cohorts. Non-LPS birds fed control, 1 and 3% FFF had higher plasma K than LPS cohorts. In general, FFF and YB exhibited linear and quadratic effects (P < 0.05) on select plasma metabolites. In conclusion, dietary provision of n-3 FA and YB influenced pullet BW at sexual maturity, development of lymphoid organs and modulated some plasma metabolites in response to LPS.